WASHINGTON, May 24, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) posted today to the AMS website the 2009 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary and the data collected that year. This information, along with an explanatory guide for consumers, can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/pdp.

The Pesticide Data Program is a partnership between AMS and cooperating state agencies that are responsible for sample collection and analysis of actual levels of pesticide residues found in the U.S. food supply.

In 2009, surveys were conducted on a variety of foods including fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, beef, catfish, rice, groundwater, and treated and untreated drinking water. The following 12 states participated in the program during 2009: California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Since 1996, the Pesticide Data Program has enhanced its focus on children’s foods in response to the Food Quality Protection Act and provides critical realistic data for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assessments of dietary exposure to pesticide residues. In addition, these data are used to facilitate global trade of American agricultural products.

Congress approved implementation of the Pesticide Data Program in January 1991 to improve the quality and quantity of information available on chemical residues in domestically produced and imported food. Since its inception, the program has tested 102 commodities.

The findings of the Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary, Calendar Year 2009, can be downloaded at www.ams.usda.gov/pdp. Printed copies will be available at a later date and can be obtained by writing to the Monitoring Programs Division, Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 8609 Sudley Rd., Suite 206, Manassas, VA 20110; by faxing (703) 369-0678; by calling (703) 330-2300, Ext. 110; or by submitting an e-mail request to amsmpo.data@ams.usda.gov.

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